IN
BRIEF...
• Do's
and Don'ts in Dealing
With the Media
• When
There Is an Error or
Bad News
• Organizational
Arrangements
• The
Media
• Photo
Shoot Checklist
• Speaking
On and Off the Record
• Press
Schedules and Names
• Pool
Reporting
• The
Event Location
• The
Briefing Book
• On
the Internet
DO'S
AND DON'TS IN DEALING
WITH THE MEDIA
Do's
- Do tell the truth — ALWAYS.
- Do be honest and
accurate. Your credibility
and reputation depend
on it.
- Do admit it if
you don't know the
answer to a question.
Offer to get the
answer, and do so
as quickly as you
can.
- Do correct mistakes
immediately. State
that you didn't give
an adequate answer,
and you would like
to clear up the confusion.
- Do avoid using
jargon. Speak in
plain language.
- Do assume that
everything you say
is on the record.
- Do be as open with
the media as possible.
- Do call reporters
if a story appears
that is inaccurate.
Politely point out
what was wrong and
substantiate it.
- Do keep a list
of accomplishments.
Update it frequently.
Things happen so
quickly that you
may forget what you,
the official, and
your ministry or
government have achieved.
- Do always return
phone calls, or have
an aide return the
calls, in time for
reporters to meet
deadlines.
- Do try to get the
information reporters
want even if it means
an extra effort,
such as staying at
work late or hand-delivering
material.
- Do have a sense
of humor.
"Frustration
is almost built into
the fabric of the job," says
former vice presidential
spokesman David Beckwith. "Unless
you have a sense of
humor, it is a grim
business indeed."
Don'ts
- Don't lie — EVER.
- Don't say "No
Comment" — EVER.
- Don't improvise,
don't speculate,
and don't guess.
Good reporters check
facts. If you are
wrong, your credibility
will be destroyed.
- Don't try to put
a comment "off
the record" after
you have said it.
- Don't be unresponsive.
- Don't make news
until you have in
hand the information
to go with it. Don't
make an announcement
and then later prepare
a press release and
fact sheets. If you
have the material
prepared before a
press conference,
you can spend your
time after an announcement
explaining it to
the press.
WHEN
THERE IS AN ERROR
OR BAD NEWS
Dealing With
Mistakes
If you are misquoted
in a story or if misinformation
is given, act promptly.
Speak to the reporter.
Don't make threats.
Have facts, and expect
everything you say
in correcting the mistake
to be on the record.
If you don't get anywhere
with the reporter,
go to his or her editor.
You can ask for a
retraction or correction
of an error, and many
officials do this.
But others feel it
only keeps the misinformation
in the news by dredging
it up again. With the
Internet, however,
incorrect news can
be accessed in perpetuity.
For this reason, requesting
a correction is often
the route to take.
What you actually do
depends on the mistake
and its severity. But
at a minimum, you should
contact the reporter
and correct the misinformation
or misquotation.
Dealing With
Bad News
- Don't lie.
- Don't cover up.
If you lie or cover
up, you lose your
credibility.
- Don't avoid reporters'
phone calls.
- Acknowledge the
problem.
- Explain how it
is being corrected.
ORGANIZATIONAL
ARRANGEMENTS
How do U.S. government
departments handle
the various press office
functions? While every
cabinet official can
arrange the office
to his or her specifications,
the following paragraphs
look at four arrangements.
Department
of State: In
the U.S. Department
of State, the under
secretary for public
diplomacy and public
affairs heads the
department's public
affairs, media,
and communications
efforts. Under
this office is
the assistant secretary
for public affairs,
who speaks for
the secretary of
state and oversees
five offices. These
are:
- The press office,
which daily prepares
the background material,
media guidance, and
questions and answers
that the assistant
secretary uses to
prepare for his or
her daily press briefing.
- The office of media
outreach, which schedules
regional interview
appointments within
the United States
with TV, radio, and
print outlets for
State Department
officials.
- The office of public
liaison and intergovernmental
liaison, which arranges
speaking engagements
and meetings around
the United States
for State Department
officials, handles
liaison with state
and local government
officials, and sets
up briefings in the
department for visiting
groups.
- The office of electronic
information and broadcast
services, which runs
the department's
Web site and digital
video conferencing.
It also produces
interactive television
via satellite.
- The office of strategic
communication planning,
which coordinates
other offices, both
within and outside
the department, around
a certain strategic
message.
Also reporting to
the under secretary
is an assistant secretary
for education and cultural
affairs, whose office
oversees cultural and
citizen exchanges and
a coordinator of the
Office of International
Information Programs,
which sends speakers
overseas, puts out
statements by U.S.
officials, and produces
publications and Web
sites for overseas
use.
Department
of Defense: At
the U.S. Department
of Defense (DoD),
the assistant secretary
for public affairs
is the senior public
affairs official
in the department
and serves as the
spokesperson for
the secretary of
defense. The spokesperson
also manages several
sections:
- Media relations,
which responds to
questions from the
media. Desk officers
in this section are
subject-matter experts
for issues with which
the department deals
on a regular basis.
- A planning section
that is responsible
for long-range communications
efforts by topic
and by region of
the world.
- Community relations,
which evaluates,
coordinates, and
approves requests
for DoD cooperation
in public events
and community activities.
- Command information,
which is an internal
armed forces information
service for military
personnel.
Each section of the
Defense Department
and armed services
has a similar structure,
with a top spokesperson
at the head and the
subsection structure
under him or her. The
chairman of the joint
chiefs of staff, the
president's principal
military adviser, for
example, has a public
affairs chief who oversees
media relations, planning,
community relations,
and command information
sections. While the
public affairs chief
is the official for
whom they work, the
section spokespersons
also look to the public
affairs office of the
Defense secretary for
guidance.
Department
of the Treasury: At
the U.S. Department
of the Treasury,
the assistant secretary
for public affairs
is the top communications
official. He or
she serves as the
press secretary
for the secretary
of the treasury,
manages the office,
and prepares long-range
communications
strategy for the
department. The
assistant secretary
also supervises
an office of public
education, which
handles campaigns
designed to inform
the public about
new occurrences.
A deputy assistant
secretary for public
affairs reports to
the assistant secretary,
speaks for the department's
deputy secretary, and
backs up the assistant
secretary. The third
official in the office
is the director of
the office of public
affairs, who manages
press area specialists,
the department's photographers,
and the personnel who
prepare news clippings.
The director also backs
up the deputy assistant
secretary. The director
supervises four press
officers, all dedicated
to different policy
areas under the department's
jurisdiction: international
offices, enforcement
offices, taxation and
economic policy offices,
and domestic financial
offices.
Department
of Education: At
the U.S. Department
of Education, a
director of communications
oversees news media
relations, publications,
internal and external
communications,
and public inquiries.
The director is
the long-term communications
strategist and
talks to the press
only on rare occasions.
Under the communications
director is a press
secretary, who
speaks for the
secretary of education
and manages the
press office. The
press office operates
on a beat system,
with one media
specialist dealing
with the press
on elementary and
secondary education,
another on vocational
and adult education,
another on special
education, and
so on. There is
also a speechwriting
unit and an office
of public affairs
managed by a deputy
communications
director.
THE
MEDIA
Even though many journalists
report on a daily or
even hourly basis,
they need time to research,
interview, and write
stories. They also
like to know about
news events in advance — a
week or two ahead,
at least — so
they can approve a
story idea with their
editors, schedule a
photographer, and do
additional research.
When there is a breaking
news story, such as
a sudden political
controversy or crisis,
a reporter may have
to cover the story
with little background,
making the task of
writing a well-informed
article harder. Consequently,
the more information
and research that can
be made available to
reporters the better.
It also is important
to learn the lead times
and needs for each
type of media. They
vary a good deal.
Newspapers: Newspapers
provide in-depth coverage
of stories and can
be good at reaching
the public and those
in decision-making
positions. Newspaper
reporters typically
have "beats" or
specialized areas on
which they write, making
them experts on certain
issues such as economics
or politics.
All reporters like
detailed written documentation — facts,
figures, anecdotes,
graphics, and examples,
such as press releases
or media backgrounders — to
bolster a story. The
material needs to be
able to be substantiated,
and with sources given.
Giving reporters written
material such as quotes
and fact sheets increases
the likelihood that
a quote or fact will
be reported accurately.
Newspaper reporters
answer to an editor
who assigns stories
and edits their writing.
They operate on tight
deadlines. Morning
newspapers have late
afternoon deadlines;
afternoon newspapers
have late morning and
early afternoon deadlines.
If a news conference
is at 11 a.m., for
example, and the news
deadline is at 5 p.m.,
the intervening time
would give morning
newspaper reporters
time to put together
their stories, camera
operators and photographers
time to deliver their
visuals, and editors
time to edit for final
production. Similarly,
weekly newspapers have
deadlines on certain
days.
Newspapers run all
types of news: hard
news, features, profiles,
analyses, editorials,
opinion pieces (typically
on the editorial pages),
and letters to the
editor. Other media
have these types of
news, too, but newspapers
often have the broadest
range of formats.
Similarly there are
different kinds of
newspapers:
- National newspapers
with broad interests
and a definite national
focus.
- Regional newspapers,
which are focused
on regional concerns.
- Local papers and
weeklies, with a
strong local focus.
- Trade publications
with specialized
audiences, such as
an energy newspaper
for petroleum executives
or a magazine for
mothers of young
children. Called "niche" publications,
these include newspapers,
magazines, and on-line
sites for every kind
of occupation, job
specialty, leisure
activity, and interest.
Newsletters: Newsletters
are trade publications
that can be in a magazine
or a newspaper format.
They are usually geared
to very specialized
audiences.
Wire Services: Wire
services put out articles
that are used by all
media either for direct
reprinting or for story
ideas. A newspaper
editor, for instance,
might ask for a feature
story with local interest
after seeing a wire
service hard-news story.
The Associated Press,
Reuters, and Agence-France
Presse are among the
best known of the news
services.
Magazines: Like
newspapers, magazines
range from those with
a general news focus
to very specialized
publications covering,
for example, economics
or foreign affairs.
Typically, magazine
writers have more time
to develop a story
in depth than do newspaper
reporters. Magazines
often have editorial
calendars mapping out
topics they will cover
throughout the year.
These are useful to
government and other
public relations offices
in developing story
ideas around particular
magazine issues.
Radio
and TV: Radio
and television
carry a variety
of programs — national
shows, local or
regional shows,
straight news,
human interest
programs, talk
shows, documentaries,
and interview programs.
Radio and television
reporters and assignment
editors often get
their story ideas
from newspapers
and news wire services.
Unlike newspaper
reporters, some
radio and television
journalists, particularly
at smaller stations,
are more generalists
than specialists
on particular topics
because of the
wide variety of
their assignments.
TV reporters usually
cannot report an
issue in the depth
of print reporters,
and complex stories
are often reduced
to short news segments.
TV is a visual
medium, and reporters
and assignment
editors prefer
stories that can
be told with pictures.
TV news deadlines
are tight.
On-line
news: On-line
news is the newest
medium. Like radio
and television,
news appearing
on Internet Web
sites has immediate
dissemination,
as well as offering — through
talk radio shows,
for example — the
ability to have
a two-way dialogue.
There are all types
of on-line news,
from newspapers
and magazines to
chat rooms, plus
e-mail to targeted
audiences.
Given the varying
deadlines of different
media, a press official
should be fair. That
is, he or she should
take the various deadlines
into consideration
and not always favor
the deadline of one
medium over another
when scheduling events
such as press conferences.
Scheduling should also
occur so that broadcasters
can cover events and
have time to produce
their news segments.
PHOTO
SHOOT CHECKLIST
Pictures, like words,
tell a story. In using
pictures:
- Decide what you
want the photo to
do.
- Draw what you are
looking for as guidance.
- Take Polaroids
of each shot or look
through the camera's
viewfinder before
the pictures are
taken.
SPEAKING
ON AND OFF THE
RECORD
Speaking on the record
is the preferred way
to speak to the media.
Since you want the
information about your
program, your idea,
or your message to
reach the public, why
not have your name
attached to it?
"The safest course
of action is to assume
that all you say to
a reporter will end
up in the newspaper,
especially in the beginning
before you know the
reporters you are working
with and are confident
in who will accept
the terms of the agreement," says
former White House
spokesperson Dee Dee
Myers.
As you develop a relationship
with a reporter, you
learn to whom you can
speak freely. "Then
you can use 'background'
as a way to explain
more complex subjects
without having to risk
being taken out of
context," she
says. "But in
emerging democracies,
where rules aren't
clear, you can get
burned talking off
the record."
The ground rules of
how you are speaking
MUST be established
before you speak. Not
afterwards. Here is
what the terms mean.
- On the record.
When you speak on
the record, everything
you say to a reporter
may be used and attributed
to you by name.
- On background.
When you tell a journalist
you are speaking
on background, he
or she may publish
what you say but
cannot attribute
it to you by name
or title. Rather,
the reporter attributes
your statements to
a previously agreed
upon identification,
such as "a well-informed
source" or "an
expert" or "a
government official."
- On deep background.
When you establish
before an interview
that you are speaking
only on deep background,
a reporter may use
the information but
without giving any
attribution. Anything
said in the interview
is usable but not
in direct quotation
and not for attribution.
- Off the record.
When you speak off
the record, you give
a reporter information
that is for his or
her knowledge only
and that cannot be
used, printed, or
made public in any
way. A reporter should
not take the information
to another source
in the hopes of getting
official confirmation.
Sometimes, spokespersons
use an off-the-record
briefing to provide
context for an issue
when a reporter appears
to be off the mark
on a story and privacy
laws prevent putting
the information on
the record. Knowing
the background can
give a fuller picture
of the story.
"Getting a story
killed can be an achievement," says
one government spokesperson, "and
it can lead reporters
or editors to back
off an inaccurate account
they may be ready to
publish. Sometimes,
the best successes
in this business are
when you have precisely
nothing to show for
all your hard work
and efforts. You killed
a story that would
have been wrong if
it ran."
PRESS
SCHEDULES AND NAMES
So you can quickly
respond to breaking
news and target your
media when you have
a story to tell, maintain
up-to-date lists of
media contacts.
- List the names
of reporters, their
affiliations, their
beats or special
interests, addresses
at work and at home,
cell phone numbers,
beeper and fax numbers,
and e-mail addresses.
Also keep separate
lists of reporters
by beat or interest
and by geographic
region.
- Make sure the lists
are kept up to date.
- Know how each contact
wants to receive
news — by fax,
phone, e-mail.
- Know each reporter's
deadline and don't
call during deadline
times.
- Find out who in
the various media
decides what news
will be covered and
at what time of the
day, week, or month
story decisions are
made. Learn how far
in advance of an
event a media outlet
wants to be notified.
POOL
REPORTING
Pool reporting is
used when the site
for an event or press
conference is not large
enough to accommodate
all the reporters interested
in covering a story.
For example, in the
United States, it is
used frequently at
the White House, where
the space in the president's
office and other areas
is limited.
Pool reporting involves
representatives of
each type of media "pooling
together" to cover
an event; they write
a report on or tape
the event and make
their materials available
to their colleagues
in the press or broadcast
media. The material
is given to everyone
at the same time, no
one can use the material
until everyone has
it.
A typical "pool" consists
of a wire service reporter,
aprint reporter, a
magazine reporter,
a broadcast reporter,
a camera person, a
sound person, and a
still photographer.
Sometimes, it might
involve just a single
camera filming the
event for transmission
to reporters in a nearby
room.
A "pool" can
be even smaller. When
President Bill Clinton
attended a funeral
at the U.S. Naval Academy,
the size of the chapel
and protocol for the
event dictated the
use of a pool report.
One camera was allowed
in the chapel. Reporters
and other cameras were
in the basement receiving
a live transmission
of the event, and they
prepared their reports
from the transmission.
THE
EVENT LOCATION
Once you've decided
on the "message" for
an event, you should
determine the best
place to hold it to
get across the message
to the public. For
example, if an event
concerns an announcement
about education, the
best spot could be
an educational setting
such as a school. Once
you've selected a school,
consider the following:
- What is the best
classroom for the
event?
- Should older or
younger children
be involved?
- What visual picture
do I want to present;
what backdrop best
achieves that and
fits the message?
- Who else should
be there to help
develop the message?
For example, are
there teachers, school
administrators, perhaps
the minister of education,
who should be included
either as speakers
or as guests? Decide
when they should
be invited, who should
invite them, and
what role, if any,
they should play.
THE
BRIEFING BOOK
In the United States,
when a top official
such as a state governor,
a cabinet member, and
certainly the president
and vice president
participate in an event,
they receive a briefing
book in advance. This
book is prepared by
the staff of the person
staging the event.
The book is intended
to maximize everyone's
participation...and
to avoid surprises.
Typically, a briefing
book addresses the
following:
- The purpose of
the event.
- The attire, or
dress — casual,
business, formal.
- The weather forecast
for the day of the
event.
- The size of the
audience.
- Whether the press
will be there. Whether
cameras are expected.
- The location for
the event.
- The name of the
staff coordinator
for the event, along
with telephone, cell
phone, and beeper
numbers.
- The major political
issues of concern
in the area where
the event is being
held. The briefing
book might include
copies of supporting
newspaper articles.
- The names of the
participants, their
titles and affiliations,
and a summary of
what they will be
doing or saying at
the event. Provide
biographies if appropriate,
along with correct
pronunciations of
names if they are
unusual.
- A minute-by-minute
agenda or schedule
for the event.
- What questions
are likely from the
press or audience,
along with possible
answers.
- A list of issues
to be addressed and
those to be avoided.
- The names of any
people the official
should recognize
from the podium.
- A diagram of the
staging area, including
where the official
sits and stands,
and next to whom.
ON
THE INTERNET
Any national government
agency in the United
States — and
most state, local,
and regional agencies
as well — can
take their messages
to the public via the
World Wide Web. The
media home pages of
the principal federal
departments might include
a schedule or calendar
for their key officials
covering both home
and satellite events;
copies of news releases,
speeches, and testimony;
fact sheets and media
advisories; photos
and slides; special
reports and publications;
even a radio news broadcast
service...all available
from a single source.
To get an idea of
the depth and breadth
of coverage that the
press offices of the
United States' 14 cabinet
departments offer on
the Internet, check
out one or more of
the Web addresses listed
below. You can also
link to the on-line
media offices of more
than 60 specialized
independent agencies
and corporations of
the U.S. government
at http://www.firstgov.gov/us_gov/establishments.html.
Department of Agriculture
http://www.usda.gov/newsroom.html
Department of Commerce
http://www2.osec.doc.gov/
Department of Defense
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/
Department of Education
http://www.ed.gov/news.html
Department of Energy
http://www.energy.gov/press/index.html
Department of Health
and Human Services
http://www.hhs.gov/news/
Department of Housing
and Urban Development
http://www.hud.gov/news/index.cfm
Department of the
Interior
http://www.doi.gov/doipress/
Department of Justice
http://www.usdoj.gov/03press/index.html
Department of Labor
http://www.dol.gov/dol/public/media/main.htm
Department of State
http://www.state.gov/press/
Department of Transportation
http://www.dot.gov/affairs/briefing.htm
Department of the
Treasury
http://www.ustreas.gov/headlines.html
Department of Veterans
Affairs
http://www.va.gov/opa/